Every dishes of each state or country has its own unique specialty, a very unique
taste and a very different way of cooking. Manipur also has its own way of
cooking. Manipur dishes are full with healthy food. Different types of herbs
and some medicinal plant were used while making dishes, dishes are incomplete
without them.
Highlighting those
herbs are required so that everyone knows it. So here are some of the herbs and
medicinal plant used in Manipuri dishes:
1.
Peruk ( Indian Penny wort)-
Medicinal plant known from
ancient time. Helping to retard aging process, good for brain etc
Dishes where it is used: peruk kangshu,morok
metpa, singju, champhut etc
2.
Sa maroi or awa phadigom (thorny coriander)-
It is reach in calcium, iron,
carotene and riboflabin. It helps to combate fevers, stimulate appetite,
improve digestion and stomach pain.
Dishes where is used: yen
thoungba (chicken curry), fish curry, sagol hawai thongba (black Dal), mairen
thongba (pumpkin curry) etc
3.
Nungsihidak (mint)-
Mint is very useful for
improving oral health. It cleanses the mouth and prevent oral ulcer. Mint refreshes
the body and arrest cough.
Dishes where it is used:
nungsihidak kandsoi (mint stew), khamen kanghou, khajing kanghou, morok metpa
etc.
4.
Mayangton (Haori Basil):
Mayangton
is an herbal remedy for diseases related
to the brain, heart, lungs, bladder, and kidneys.
Dishes
where it is used: mairen thongba, erolba, sebot kanghou, morok metpa, bora etc.
5.
Tuningkhok (chameleon
plant)-
The
whole plant is antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antimicrbial, antiphlogistic,
antiviral, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic,
laxative and ophthalmic. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of
many ailments including cancer, coughs, dysentery, enteritis and fever. Its use
is said to strengthen the immune system.
Dishes
where it is used: it is mainly used for a garnishing purpose in dishes and
snacks like erolba, morok amet, cheng asuba etc.
6.
Phukpai (false mint)-
It is also used as a garnishing
purposes in laphu erolba, morok ametpa. Its taste is just good and smells so
sweet.
There are also lots of herbs and medicinal
plant apart from which are mention above . If it goes on mentioning it than I think it will be too many. Those mention
are the common herbs used by Manipuri people
for everyday in day today life.